Sir, – Freedom of artistic expression, here in relation to a cartoon by The Irish Times political satirist, is a vital part of free speech and a bedrock of our democracy. We will rarely all like every message they portray, but we should be grateful and proud we live in a society with a free press and the right to challenge.
Martyn Turner’s cartoon of September 21st can be viewed generously as a play on words, and a plea for peace.
On the other hand, it can be viewed very differently.
I and many others were deeply dismayed to see some of the imagery he used – the portrayal of an Israeli soldier with the classical anti-Semitic depiction of a hook-nosed Jew in the style of the merchant trope.
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Further the use of the yellow star was a deeply offensive choice of image, it is one of the most triggering symbols for the Jewish people, and which needs no explanation as to why.
In the context of the terrible conflict in the Middle East and the anti-Semitism which has exploded globally, there is a heavy responsibility on the shoulders of the legacy-respected newspapers like The Irish Times.
That onus is to ensure through its journalism and cartoons, whatever their political message, that they are presented in a way which as far as is reasonable, do not have the potential to incite or contribute to religious or nation hatred.
On this occasion, I believe the cartoon failed this test.
I hope some lessons can be drawn so that future coverage of this extraordinarily complex conflict, in word or cartoon, may be viewed perhaps through a wider pupil and more unclouded lens. – Yours, etc,
Dr ED ABRAHAMSON,
London.